Worcester City are the latest side to tell players they must take a pay cut to keep the club out of trouble.
The Conference South outfit, current home of ex-Bull Jordan Fitzpatrick, have told their remaining 17 senior players they will have to take a pay cut and will be forced to hand loanee Michael McGrath back to Kidderminster as they cannot afford to keep him. Two players have departed already this week as has club veteran Geoff Ashby, their reserve team boss and chief scout for the past 25 years.
They sold their delapidated St Georges Lane home in the summer for housing with their new home destined to be part of a 20 acre site by the M5. Delays have already seen the planning application pushed back several months and the scheme, featuring car showrooms and a hotel, is likely to be significantly delayed by the current financial crisis.
New chairman Anthony Hampson, appointed a month ago after a power struggle at the club, is to meet the club's bank to negotiate more time while a pair of directors appointed with Hampson have already walked and the club's official website, previously funded and operated by a lone supporter, has been down since September after the supporter fell out with the board.
They had a gate of just 647 for their last home match, with close to 1,000 needed to break-even. Even a plea to 'local individuals' earned the club just £1,600.